The trends we spotted at the launch of MR PORTER’s Made In California collection.

There was a time not so long ago when the phrase “LA style” was an oxymoron, with an emphasis on the moron. The perception was that men in California just didn’t know how to dress. But in recent years, all that has changed, fuelled in part by the emergence all at once of several exciting new local labels – contemporary designers in every sense – that have helped to put LA on the menswear map.

This was one of the compelling reasons why we came up with our Made In California project – 12 exclusive capsule collections from 12 West Coast-based designers, which we launched with a huge party in a storied (read: down ’n’ dirty) motel in East Hollywood, dressed up MR PORTER-style for the occasion. If you’ll permit us, we’d like to fist-bump our friends who came together to make this event such a quintessentially LA experience.

Hero looks from each of the 12 designers were displayed in the neon-lit windows of the motel rooms that looked out onto the parking lot. Here, we parked a few classic cars, including a Porsche 356 and VW Type 2 camper van.

Guests roamed the property while drinking Venice Beach’s own House Beer, Don Julio Tequila and Hangar 1 Vodka cocktails with juices and mixers from Juice Served Here. Around the spot-lit pool, chefs from B.S Taqueria served up tacos and churros before the In-N-Out guys turned up and dispensed burgers from customised housekeeping carts.

From the second-floor balcony, DJ Mr Myles Hendrik warmed up the crowd of 700 down below before hip-hop’s man of the moment Mike WiLL Made-It took over on the decks and mic, accompanied by a sizable entourage (including Ty Dolla $ign and Slim Jxmmi of Rae Sremmurd), who made the most of the Dom Perignon green room. For those who wanted to spin their own tunes, Sonos had set up a surround-sound listening lounge with a record player and selection of classic vinyls.

At check-in, party-goers were encouraged to explore the motel rooms. One was a stitch-and-patch room, courtesy of Lot, Stock And Barrel, whose team were personalising bandanas. Another was a palm-fringed booth for commemorative photos and there was a 1980s arcade games room. On the way out, guests were encouraged to exit through the gift shop and take home a MR PORTER Motel souvenir, such as a branded bathrobe, a pair of slippers or an ashtray.

The eclectic crowd of LA movers and tastemakers did not disappoint in terms of style. Looking back through the photos of the night, here are five LA trends we spotted from those who came along.

One of the more prevalent trends of the evening, there were lots of loose and louche summer shirts – many of them highly patterned and colourful – and worn either buttoned up or unbuttoned over a tee. Our favourite was this bright yellow example worn by rapper Wil$on, cut in a relaxed boxy shape and worn open over a simple white tee.

It’s a classic Californian combination, and it works – a fact that both Mr Greg Chait (left, designer of The Elder Statesman) and model and man-about-town Mr Miles Garber seem keenly aware of. Having said, the thing we’re really jealous of is Mr Chait’s vintage Fugees T-shirt.

This was best demonstrated by two of our Made In California designers: Mr Joshua Willis, creative director of Second/Layer, who wore one of his own loose and laid-back suits with a plain white T-shirt and sneakers (far right, photographed with co-owner and art director Mr Ant de Padovane), and Noon Goons founder Mr Kurt Narmore (left), who power-dressed in a bold and broad-shouldered Acne Studios number. A fresh take on a 1980s shape.

LA has long been the US capital of denim, and there was a great deal on display, a lot of it in washed-out lighter blue hues. But it was especially notable how much of it was highly distressed, customised and patched. Actor/comedian Mr Joel McHale (left) ticked that box in John Elliott jeans, as did NFL wide receiver Mr Victor Cruz (right).

There were plenty of people wearing denim jackets (actor Mr Matt Bomer wore a pale grey one from John Elliott; Simon Miller’s Mr Daniel Corrigan went for a bleached variety from his own collection), but the number of bomber jackets on display was particularly notable, the standout being this AMIRI number worn by Mike WiLL Made-it.

Shop the Made In California collections here